Lifestyle // 2014 Favourites

January 4, 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

I can’t quite believe it’s 2015 – where did 2014 go?! I had a really fun-filled, action packed year so I thought I’d do a little round up of some of my favourite things, products and moments from last year.

Favourite TV Show – Gossip Girl

Now I know this is actually quite an old show but I only watched it for the first time in 2014 and became 100% OBSESSED!!!! I have quite an obsessive compulsive personality so when I like something, I really like something! (Pizza, I’m looking at you!) I will literally watch the same thing day in day out and never get bored of it and I am actually on my 4th viewing of Gossip Girl. And by viewing I mean watching it every single episode back to back from start to finish. When I got to the last episode I went straight back to the first again. I LOVE IT!!! (I even did aGossip Girl themed Midweek Manicure back in February)

Favourite Film – Chalet Girl

In keeping with the Gossip Girl theme above my favourite film discovery of 2014 is Chalet Girl. Again it was released quite a while ago but the lovely Erin from Erin’s Choice recommended it to me as a fellow Chuck Bass lover! It follows Kim, played by The Theory of Everything’s Felicity Jones, who goes to work as a chalet girl for a rich family in the Alps. It’s definitely not the best film I’ve ever watched but it’s a feel good Brit rom com classic, with lots of familiar faces including Bill Bailey, Bill Nighy, Brooke Shields, and of course Ed Westwick. An Ed Westwick who snowboards. And plays guitar. Ohhh Ed Westwick. So so dreamy…..

Favourite Restaurant – Joe Allen (Covent Garden)

My boyfriend and I had a really great meal at Joe Allen in October and I keep meaning to write up a full post about it. Watch this space! We both had really well cooked steaks with a variety of tasty sides and starters. The decor is really cool, with the walls plastered in old theatre posters and it has a really great old school vibe to it. I definitely want to go back in 2015!

Favourite Album – Paloma Faith: A Perfect Contradiction

I wasn’t that bothered about Paloma Faith before the end of this year but my mum is a big fan so I bought her tickets to see Paloma at the Hammersmith Apollo in November. I thought I better have a listen before I went and wowza she is amazing! This is such a fab album, one that all ages can enjoy. Definitely worth a listen!

Favourite Holiday – Fethiye, Turkey

I was lucky enough to go on two weeks away this year, once to Turkey with my boyfriend and one to Spain with friends, as well as some great weekends away to Shrewsbury, Cambridge and Whitstable. Whilst our big group holiday was lots of fun I absolutely adored exploring Turkey with Tony and experienced so many beautiful sights (which you can read all about here.)

Favourite Show – John Williams, Royal Albert Hall

This was literally the most incredible live music performance I’ve ever seen. I’m a huge fan of John Williams’ scores – the Jurassic Park theme literally brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it – and listening to them performed live by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the beautiful Royal Albert Hall in October was absolutely fantastic.

Favourite Book – Escape for the Summer* by Ruth Saberton

I reviewed this book in May and it’s Christmas sequel a few weeks ago.Escape for the Summer is such a fun, lovely novel with some really great, relatable characters. It’s a really light, feel good read and I really invested in all the characters. Ruth has hinted there are more books to come in the Escape series and I can’t wait to read them!

Favourite Mascara – Seventeen Falisifeye HD Mascara

I have really sensitive eyes so have to be quite careful with what eye products I use. This year I was unable to continue to find my fail safe Almay Dial Up Mascara (which has been discontinued) and was thrilled to discover this beauty from Seventeen. It doesn’t irritate my eyes and gives me amazing lift, curl, separation and volume and is probably my favourite make up item EVER!

Favourite Lip Product – Barry M Coral Lipgloss

I love this lipgloss! It has been a handbag staple for me throughout 2014 as it’s just so easy to wear. It’s a really pretty natural coral colour which gives my lips a glossy shine with less stickiness than any other lipgloss I’ve tried. It’s great for just throwing on and perking up my look with minimal effort.

Favourite Perfume – Vera Wang Love Struck Floral Rush

I managed to bag myself a right bargain in Superdrug earlier this year, getting 100ml of Love Struck Floral Rush for just £20! (and it’s actually on sale again for £25 atm!) I’d never tried it before but am a huge fan of Vera Wang’s Princess range so thought I’d give it a whirl. It’s such a beautiful floral scent in a really pretty bottle. Winning all round!

Favourite Skincare Product – Beauty Kitchen Wake Me Hand Scrub*

I was lucky enough to be sent a pot ofWake Me Hand Scrubby Beauty Kitchen back in May and it really is one of my favourite discoveries of 2014. You can read my full review here, and I just adore the refreshing zesty scent and 100% natural ingredients which leave my hands feeling silky smooth. I’ve even been using it as a foot scrub too. Beauty Kitchen is a Glasgow based business who have recently started being stocked across the UK in Holland and Barrett stores making their great quality, affordable products really available which is fantastic. I can’t wait to see what 2015 has in store for this amazing brand.

I first tried and reviewed these in April and have used them pretty much non stop since. I’ve tried other products in between but have always come back to these! They really do give my fine hair a big volume boost and I love that they’re paraben free too and so so affordable!

Favourite Midweek Manicure – White nails with neon tips

Now I hope this isn’t blowing my own trumpet by looking at my favourite Midweek Manicure post of 2014, as this is not my intention at all! Midweek Manicure has been a long running fixture on emsypickle throughout 2014 and I absolutely love all things nail related so I thought it would be fun to look through my many nail posts and pick a fave – which is … (drumroll please) … my Models Own Polish for Tans Neon Tips Mani. I wore this look so many times this year and White Light which I used on the base has definitely been my most worn polish EVER! I need to buy a new bottle as I’ve very nearly finished this one! I really loved the Polish for Tans range and think it’s so perfect for summer, as well as jazzing up my nails thorough out the year.

Favourite Baking Post – Pizza Cake

I’ve also absolutely loved doing lots of baking posts again this year and can’t wait to bake even more in 2015 as I was lucky enough to win a KitchenAid on Twitter over Christmas wooooooo STILL can’t believe this!!! I loved baking along with the Great British Bake Off again this year but my favourite thing I made in 2014 has to be the pizza cake I baked for my boyfriends 30th birthday! It was a really fun, creative bake which was actually quite simple but Tony absolutely loved it! Hurrah!

So there you go, some of my 2014 faves! I’m excited to see what 2015 will bring!